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APPENDIX 1
AN ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT
BETWEEN
The Moray Community
AND
The Armed Forces Community in Moray
Date : TO BE INSERTED
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We, the undersigned, agree to work and act together to
honour the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
THE AGREED SIGNATURES AND ORGANISATIONS
WILL BE ADDED HERE
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SECTION 1: PARTICIPANTS
1.1
This Armed Forces Community Covenant is made between:
The serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families
working and residing in Moray
and
The Moray Community Planning Partnership
SECTION 2: PRINCIPLES OF THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT
2.1 The Armed Forces Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support
between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. It is intended to
complement the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the
Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, at the local level.
2.2 The purpose of this Community Covenant is to encourage support for the Armed
Forces Community working and residing in Moray and to recognise and remember the
sacrifices made by members of this Armed Forces Community, particularly those who have
given the most. This includes in-Service and ex-Service personnel their families and
widow(er)s in Moray.
2.3 For the Community Planning partners, the Community Covenant presents an
opportunity to bring their knowledge, experience and expertise to bear on the provision of
help and advice to members of the Armed Forces Community. It also presents an
opportunity to build upon existing good work on other initiatives such as the Welfare
Pathway.
2.4 For the Armed Forces community, the Community Covenant encourages the
integration of Service life into civilian life and encourages members of the Armed Forces
community to help their local community.
SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL INTENTIONS
Aims of the Community Covenant
3.1
The Armed Forces Community Covenant complements the principles of the Armed
Forces Covenant which defines the enduring, general principles that should govern the
relationship between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces community
3.2 It aims to encourage all parties within a community to offer support to the local Armed
Forces community and make it easier for Service personnel, families and veterans to
access the help and support available from the MOD, from statutory providers, the
Charitable and Voluntary Sector, and the business community. These organisations
already work together in partnership at local level.
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3.3 The scheme is intended to be a two-way arrangement and the Armed Forces
community are encouraged to do as much as they can to support their community and
promote activity which integrates the Service community into civilian life.
SECTION 4: Measures
4.1 The Moray Council has an established history in working closely with RAF
Lossiemouth and formally RAF Kinloss. Since 1996 the Civic/Military Forum has been in
place delivering initiatives under the strategic leadership of the council and RAF. The Civic
Military Forum has been found to be a useful, practical means of building upon established
relationships between RAF Lossiemouth and formally RAF Kinloss.
4.2 In 2009 the forum was expanded to all Community Planning partners and was renamed the Community Planning Senior Officers’ Group. This Group provided the
opportunity for partners and the RAF to work proactively together to co-ordinate and
implement measures which benefit our communities. Its remit addressed the strategic
areas identified by the Government as important to the integration of the armed forces and
their families into the community such as housing, education, planning, welfare,
environmental protection, health and policing.
4.3 The Community Planning Senior Officers’ Group will continue to provide leadership,
decision-making and oversight for initiatives and measures which support our Armed
Forces Community in order to evidence this Community Covenant.
4.4 However, in light of the changes to the armed forces personnel in Moray, the
membership of the group will be expanded to enable it to address the strategic areas of
interest as well as consider any developments that support the ongoing integration of the
armed forces into the Moray community.
4.5 The Senior Officers’ Group will develop and approve projects which support the
integration of the armed forces community into the local area. These projects will be
defined and, as they progress, this document will be updated on an annual basis to
recognise the contribution of all partners in support of the convenant.
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CONTACT PERSONNEL AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS
MOD DCDS (Pers&Trg) Covenant Team
Contact Name:
Title:
Telephone:
Address:
Lisa Harper
DCDS (Pers) Sec Covenant 1
020 7218 9110
DCDS (Pers) Covenant Team
Zone D, 6th Floor
Ministry of Defence
Main Building
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2HB
Moray Council
Contact Name:
Title:
Telephone:
Fax:
Address:
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Bridget Mustard
Corporate Policy Unit Manager
01343 563048
01343 540399
High Street
Elgin
IV30 1BX
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THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT
An Enduring Covenant Between
The People of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty’s Government
– and –
All those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of
the Crown
And their Families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed
Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing
some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious
injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in
supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return,
the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval
Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families.
They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those
who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage
compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial
services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for
those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and
charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in
supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed
military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their
contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
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